BEAUFORT, HENRY. - Cardinal, brother of Henry IV of England, b. 1377, d. 1447. He played a very important part in English political life. He entered the ecclesiastical career and in 1398 was consecrated bishop of Lincoln. In 1403 he was appointed chancellor; he left the office the following year, having been promoted to the bishopric of Winchester. He had great influence over the prince of Wales, who, having ascended the throne in 1413 (Henry V), called him again to the chancellorship. Four years later he again left the office and took part in the Council of Constance, where he arrived in Sept. 1417, when there was debate concerning reform and the election of the new Pope. He succeeded in bringing Emperor Sigismund and the members of the council into agreement; so that in session XXXV (9 Oct.) certain canons were promulgated; he was therefore among the electors of Martin V. The latter would have wished him a cardinal, but B. had to refuse because of the veto imposed by his king.
In 1424, under Henry VI, he became chancellor for the third time, but he had to face a long and silent struggle waged against him by his nephew, duke of Gloucester, regent during the king's minority. B. succeeded in proving the accusations groundless, but nevertheless wished to resign from the chancellorship.
Pope Martin V again offered him (1426) the cardinal's hat, which Henry this time accepted. In 1427 he was appointed pontifical legate for Germany, Hungary and Bohemia, against the Hussites, a post that ceased in 1431 with the death of Martin V.
In 1431 he crowned Henry VI king of France, with a lavish rite, in the cathedral of Paris. In 1435 he took part in the congress of Arras, convened to seek, without succeeding, a way to peace with France. He was a member of the tribunal that condemned Joan of Arc to be burned at the stake.